State-run China Central Television reported that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest the plan.

Fujimura said the decision to buy the islands was made at a meeting of Cabinet ministers who are involved in the purchase plans.

The full Cabinet, led Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, is expected to approve the decision on Tuesday.

Supporters think having the government own the islands will strengthen Japan's claim and control over them and send a tougher message to China.

Souring relations

Earlier this month, the city of Tokyo sent a team of experts to waters around the islands to survey fishing grounds and possible sites for development, a move that was strongly criticized by China. Activists from Japan and Hong Kong briefly set foot on the islands last month, and hundreds of Chinese have held street protests in various cities in recent weeks.

The dispute over the islands boiled over into a major diplomatic tiff between the two neighbors after a Sept. 7, 2010, incident in which a Chinese fishing boat collided with Japanese coast guard ships near the islands. The fishing boat captain was arrested and later released.